BNP losing support for negative politics: Obaidul Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has alleged that the BNP is losing support from countrymen as it engaged in “negative politics”.

The road transport and bridges minister came up with the remarks on Friday citing results of Khulna city corporation and Bangladesh Bar Council election.

Talking about the Khulna city election, Quader said, “Observers said the election was free and fair, except irregularities at two or three polling centres. It’s just the BNP that did not accept the election?”

The minister said Khaleda Zia’s release from jail has nothing to do with the national election, reports bdnews24.com.

“She (Khaleda) received bail in a case. There are more cases. Carry on with your legal battle. The court may release her,” Quader said at an event in Dhaka on Friday.

His comment comes on the heels of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s allegation that the government has been trying to use the judiciary to prevent BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from participating in the next parliamentary election.

“The court punished her and it can release her too. The Awami League government cannot bail her out,” said Quader.

He said if the judiciary had listed to the government, Khaleda would not have received the bail.

Ruling out the Fakhrul’s threat to wage a movement for releasing Khaleda from jail, the AL leader said, “She got bail in a case, which means that the judiciary is independent. You can do nothing by waging a movement as tide does not come into the dead river.”